Mclean saum



A. M LEAN SAUM 2,732,931

FEED ROLL STRING-UP Jan. 31, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28 1951 INVENTOR. .flrthw-M LeanSaum A TTORNE Y.

Jan. 31, 1956 A. MCLEAN SAQUM FEED ROLL. STRING-UP Filed June 28 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. firth ur M Lean .Saum

A TT ORNE Y.

United States Patent FEED ROLL STRING-UP Arthur McLean Saum, Waynesboro, Va., assignor to E. I. du Pont'de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application June '28., 1951-, Serial No. 234,022

8 Claims. (Cl. 203-67) This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for handling filamentary material. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for stringing in filamentary ends in a warp processing procedure.

To obtain useful synthetic yarns of polymeric materials the as-spun yarns must, in general, be stretched to avoid low tenacity and extremely high elogation. In many instances, optimum physical properties and good all around drawing performance are obtained if the yarn is drawn in the presence of a hot fluid medium such as steam.-

From the standpoint of production economy and uniformity of treatment, it is desirable to process a plurality of running ends of yarn simultaneously as in a warp. Since such an arrangement must operate with running lengths of yarn on close centers, it has been very difficult to incorporate means which permit stringing an end while the rest of the warp is running. In the drawing of a yarn warp in the presence of fluid such as steam, the yarn ends are usually uniformly advanced to the fluid treating chamber by means of a plurality of feed rolls and withdrawn from the fluid treating chamber by means of a number of heated drawing rolls operating at substantially higher peripheral speeds. In starting these processes, it is necessary to lace or thread each end in a plurality of closely spaced yarn ends separately over the feed rolls through the fluid treating chamber, thence around the heated drawing and relaxing rolls and finally, to a suitable take-up device. The continuing operation of the feed rolls during the time in which the operator is threading ends through the steam drawing chamber, which is a relatively slow step, causes an accumulation of excess yarn or waste. Moreover, this excess yarn is liable to foul adjacent running ends of yarn and must be avoided.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for introducing a filamentary or'yarn end into a running warp. It is a further object ofthis invention to reduce waste during the stringing in of feed rolls which meter a plurality of running yarn ends to a processing device. A still further object is to provide means for preventing an excess of yarn from being delivered in the feed rolls at processing speeds and to prevent such excess from fouling any or several yarn ends. Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the description which follows.

The objects of this invention are accomplished by means of an apparatus comprising cantilever mounted feed rolls provided with annular thread receiving devices projecting from the open end of said rolls. in combina tion with guiding means which temporarily divert the individual yarn end from its normal path during stringing in of a processing device. The projection on the outboard end of the roll may be stationary or may rotate with the roll provided the yarn threaded thereabout is not substantially advanced by its rotation. The guiding means are so mounted and so arranged as to 2,732,931 Patented Jan. 31, 1956 4 release the. yarn automatically for pick-up by: the-feed rolls and cause it to assume its normal running position when the operator actuates a tripping mechanism. The invention can best be illustrated by reference to the'accompanying drawings.

Figurel shows schematically, in side elevation, the drawing process and apparatus to which this invention applies;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the entrance end of the feed roll section;

Figure 3 is an end elevation looking toward the creel with the guard removed;

Figure 4 is a plan view showing the normal: and diverted paths of a yarn end;

Figure 5 shows the notch ona feed roll: taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6. is a side elevation at: the exit end oftthe feed roll section;

Figure 7 is an end'elevation of Figure 6 looking to ward the creel; and

Figure 8 is a plan view of Figure 6;

With reference to Figure 1 at the extreme left is usually located a creel (not shown) for holding a large number of packages of undrawn yarn from which yarn ends 1 are drawn and passed through an inclined comb guide 2 to a plurality of feed rolls 3. In normal running position the yarn ends are spread out as a warp passing over and under the several feed rolls before entering the steam drawing chamber 4 wherein the yarns are drawn. Thedrawing is accomplished by passing the yarn ends through a comb guide, for maintaining the warp of ends in proper order to a number of drawing rolls' 5. These rolls 5 are traveling faster than the feed rolls 3 and as a result theyarn is drawn in the steam chamber which heats the yarn ends. The yarn ends are then passed over a number of relaxing rolls 6 and finally'to aasuitable temporary take-up for the yarn until it is picked up by. the operator and strung to a twister pirn or other permanent winding device. Since this invention relates to the feed roll section. of the machine, the description that follows will be confined primarily to that section.

As shown in Figure 2, there is provided an inclined comb 2 through which all yarn ends pass and which properly spaces the yarn ends for suitable. presentation to the feed rolls and to the drawing chamber. Between the, comb and the first feed roll is located astae tionary yarn guiding member 7 and a yarn. release guide 8. To the outer end of each of the cantilever mounted feed rolls 3 and axially centered is a knob 9 generally in the form of a truncated cone with its base away from the roll end as shown in Figure 3, for ex.- ample. For protection. to the, operator theroll ends are suitably guarded by a frame 10 which has entrance slots 11 for the yarn in stringing in. The stationary yarn guiding member 7 istilted as shown in Figure 3 and serves to guide the yarn to and around the upright rod 12 of the yarn release guide 8. The stationary yarn guide 7 need not be tilted and any .yarn guide which will release the yarn into the path of the pick-up notches on the rolls described hereinafter may be used. Upon release of the yarn by the yarn release guide, the yarn slides up and off the stationary guide 7 due to the tendency of the yarn to straighten its course of travel. The yarn release guide 8 comprises an air actuated piston (not shown) and rod 12. In its normal position, with air pressure being applied, the yarn guiding rod. 12 is extended the maximum amount. Upon release of the pressure, a spring (not shown) causes the rod to retract suf ficiently to allow the yarn to slip over the end. The knobs9 are generally fixedly fastened to the ends of the several feed rolls and revolve with the rolls although they could be loosely fastened to the rolls for rotatable movement therewith. They provide convenient points over which to string the yarn and since they project through the guard, they are safer to use than the rolls themselves. They provide means for temporarily locating the yarn ends during stringing in without effecting substantial delivery of yarn until the stringing in is completed. 'Each feed roll has a notch 14 on the outer edge of the end bearing knob 9, that is, the strand receiving end of the roll, as shown in Figure 5 which is a sectional plan view of a feed roll not showing the knob 9. In combination with the feed roll notches 14, the knobs 9 provide for rapid string-up when the yarn release guide is actuated to release the yarn running there-around. The notch is carefully made, since good operation requires the yarn to be positively caught by the roll upon release from the yarn release guide.

In this part of the feed roll section of the machine, when a new end is to be strung in, the end will take a temporary position and later a permanent position as is shown by the dot-dash lines and the solid lines 1, respectively. Each yarn end will travel in similar paths on deflection and return to normal position. In the case of the yarn end at the extreme right of comb 2 in Figure 4, it-has to cross over all the other running ends to get to its running position in the warp. Similarly, other yarn ends cross over a portion of the warp, except, of course, the first end in the warp. The feed roll notches of the other rolls operate in succession to bring the yarn up onto rolls in turn.

As shown in Figure 6, the newly temporarily strung yarn follows over the knob 9 of this last feed roll 16 and in front of the stationary vertical guide 13, and thence, to its proper position in the steam drawing chamber4. This vertical guide serves to prevent the yarn from catching in the last feed roll notch before the preceding roll presents it properly and holds the end out of contact with the rest of the warp while threading up the steam drawing chamber. guide 8 has been actuated and rod 12 retracted the yarn is caught by each of the feed roll notches on rolls '3, and by the notch on roll 16. The path is shown by dotted lines 18. The yarn end is then lifted over the vertical guide (as shown by dotted lines 17) and the yarn end assumes its normal running position 1. It is to be noted that not until the yarn is manually lifted over the vertical guide can it assume its final running position. If desired this guide can be a mechanical guide.

In stringing in an end the operator leads the yarn from the package on the creel and draws the end through the proper space in the inclined comb 2, after which, he passes the yarn in back of the stationary yarn guide 7 and in front of the yarn release guide 8 and around the knobs on the five cantilever mounted feed rolls 3 and 16. Coming off the knob of the last feed roll 16, the yarn passes in front of the vertical guide 13 and is threaded into the proper tube (not shown) of the steam drawing chamber 4 and drawn therethrough. With the yarn end coming through chamber 4, the operator presses a button that stops the air supplied to the yarn release guide 8 and allows the yarn end to take its normal running position on the feed rolls. Then the operator lifts the end over the vertical guide 13 between the last feed roll and the steam chamber 4. The operator then locates the end in the correct comb position on the draw side of the steam chamber.

While the aforementioned drawings and description are specific to preferred equipment, certain changes and modifications may be made Without any substantial loss in effectiveness. For instance, the string-up knobs on the feed rolls may vary in size and shape quite widely; the feed roll notch may be replaced by other means for picking up the yarn at the proper time, such as a conical surface with a helical groove or track; the air release guide may be replaced by a solenoid operated guide rod or a mechanical spring actuated guide post with a suitable After the yarn release catch and other equivalent substitute parts that may occur to one skilled in the art may likewise be used.

-By means of this invention, stringing in of a yarn end is easily accomplished without interference with the running yarns of the warp and without endangering the operator. The slotted guards in front of the nest of feed rolls protect the operators hands from the feed roll notches and other moving parts of the machine. The string-up knobs which are readily accessible make the initial threading in by the operator simple and importantly the knobs draw no yarn from the creel while the steam chamber is being strung. No excess yarn is delivered to the rolls and fouling of yarn ends is minimized. The practically instantaneous pick-up of the yarn by the rolls when the yarn release guide is actuated provides the necessary yarn for stringing the drawing and relaxing rolls. The drawn yarn produced by the process and apparatus of this invention is of uniform high quality and the amount of undrawn waste is very substantially reduced.

Any departure from the procedure described herein which conforms to the principles of the invention is intended to be included within the scope of the claims below.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for advancing a traveling strand involving a plurality of feed rolls, apparatus for keeping said strand from its intended, normal path and then permitting its placement in its normal path which apparatus comprises a strand receiving device on each of said rolls, said device being mounted on and projecting from the base of the roll at its strand receiving end; in front of the first of said rolls, a guide for keeping said strand out of its normal path as it passes to said receiving device; and means for releasing said strand from said guide, said rolls having means for automatically picking up the released strand.

2. In apparatus for advancing a traveling strand involving a plurality of feed rolls, apparatus for keeping said strand from its intended, normal path and then permitting its placement in its normal path which apparatus comprises a strand receiving device on each of said rolls, said device being mounted on and projecting from the base of the roll at its strand receiving end; in front of the first of said rolls, a guide for keeping said strand out of its normal path as it passes to said receiving device; and means for releasing said strand from said guide, said rolls having means for automatically picking up the released strand in a successive manner.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 which includes means at the exit end of said rolls for preventing the said automatic pick-up means 'on the last of said feed rolls from acting until the yarn is properly presented for pick-up by the preceding roll.

4. In apparatus for advancing a traveling strand comprising a plurality of feed rolls, apparatus for keeping said strand from its intended, normal path and then permitting its placement in its normal path which apparatus comprises a circular protuberance on each of said rolls, said protuberance being mounted on the base of the roll at its strand receiving end and said protuberance being of a relatively small diameter; in front of the first of said rolls, a guide for keeping said strand out of its normal path as it passes to said protuberance; and a release for said guide, each of said rolls having means for automatically picking up the released strand.

5. In apparatus for advancing a traveling strand comprising a plurality of feed rolls, apparatus for keeping said strand from its intended, normal path and then permitting its placement in its normal path which apparatus comprises a circular protuberance on each of said rolls, said protuberance being mounted on the base of the roll atits strand receiving end and said protuberance being of relatively small diameter; in front of the first of said rolls, a guide for keeping said strand out of its normal path as it passes to said protuberance; a release for said guide, each of said rolls having means for automatically picking up the released strand; and at the exit end of said rolls, a guide for keeping said strand from being picked up by the last roll until the strand is properly presented for pick-up by the preceding roll.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said protuberance is a truncated cone with its base away fronn the said roll end.

7. In apparatus for advancing a traveling strand involving passing the strand around a feed roll, apparatus for keeping said strand from its intended, normal path and then permitting its placement in its normal path which apparatus comprises a strand receiving device which is mounted on and projects from the base of the said feed roll at the strand receiving end of said roll; in front of said roll, a guide for keeping said strand out of 6 its normal path as it passes to said receiving device; and means for releasing said strand from said guide, said roll having means for automatically picking up the released strand. 7

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 in which said strand receiving device is a truncated cone with its base away from the feed roll end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,387,869 Arrington Oct. 30, 1945 2,388,068 McDermott Oct. 30, 1945 2,392,268 Schmidt June 1, 1946 2,459,254 Van Der Mei Jan. 18, 1949 2,534,459 Lawson Dec. 19, 1950 

